Postcard Valuations and Appraisals

Though flea markets have ever been a great place to pick up a bargain, the market for postcards has undoubtedly changed with the growing importance of the internet. Most postcards are now sold online. With eBay remaining one of the best selling platforms to purchase postcards, there are certainly still bargains to be found for the specialist collector who know their chosen themes. New postcard collectors have unfortunately little reliable reference and it can be worth asking for an expert’s opinion. There are obviously replicas of the most famous antique postcards, but actual fakes are not that common as usually there is not much money in it for fakers, who usually turn to other disciplines to counterfeit. Our Postcard expert would be delighted to help you with your postcard valuation and after you have submitted photographs of your postcard. You can expect an appraisal to be sent back within 48 hours in the form of a printable certificate and an Ebay-friendly listing sticker. 

Our Postcard Expert

Our postcard expert has worked for one of the two leading auction houses in London for over 30 years and has unrivalled knowledge within this field of expertise with a total career of 46 years as a postcard valuer and auctioneer. With postcard collecting being one of the increasing collecting fields, this area of expertise provides a fascinating journey into the history of countries and their way of communicating and liaising throughout the ages through postcards.

The History of Postcards

Postcards were first issued in 1869 by the Austrian government, at Professor Emmanuel Hermann’s behest. The idea behind the creation of postcards was so that one could mail cheaply without an envelope, as an easier way to send short messages. Postcards did not encounter an immediate success though. At that time, many people considered that it was unseemly to send cards that anyone could read, including the servants. Despite the fact that the United Kingdom first invented the stamp, it was slower than its continental neighbours to issue postcards. The Post Office allowed the private publication of postcards for use through the mail with an adhesive stamp in 1894. From 1870 to 1894, the British Post Office issued postcards with a halfpenny stamp printed in the corner.

In the US, the Post Office held its monopoly to print postcards from 1873 to 1898. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, ‘divided back’ cards eventually started to be issued around the world and so did picture postcards. They were both a new form of visual expression and a significant means of advertising or promoting places. Thus postcards always reflected their time: landscapes, fantasy creations, various greetings, railway and shipping themes but also depicted contemporary works of art from their era. The early 20th century is generally considered to be the Golden Age of Postcards.

Collecting Postcards

Deltiology (name for postcard collecting) is one of the world’s most popular collectable hobbies, together with coin and stamp collecting. With it being easy to start one's own collection, collectors can focus on a particular location, post card style, or any other theme that grip their imagination.

Condition is an extremely important to consideration when buying postcards. The paper content and consistency can be a good starting point to establish the postcard's authenticity. Sometimes, the main constituent of the postcard's value comes from what is written on the back rather than what was printed on the front, e.g. signatures or messages from famous people. Amongst the most collectable postcards are: Victorian postcards, postcards sent from the Titanic, unusual Santa Claus postcards - a set of four ‘Hold to Light‘ Uncle Sam Santa Claus cards fetched $20,000 at auction. Furthermore, one of the other most popular categories is Halloween, where some cards can sell for as much as £200 or £300. The Warveley Cycles advertising postcard from 1898, featuring a poster designed by Alphonse Mucha, sold recently for $20,000 on eBay. Only about a dozen examples of this postcard exist.

Useful links & further information

Latest postcards & valuation news